Ultravia Pelican

{{Short description|Canadian high-wing, single-engine, tractor configuration ultralight aircraft}}  {{Infobox aircraft | name = Pelican | logo = | logo_size = | image = Ultravia Pelican Club BULA C-IBDC 02.JPG | alt = | caption = Ultravia Pelican Club | long_caption = | other_names = | aircraft_type = [[Ultralight aircraft]] | aim = | outcome = | related = | national_origin = [[Canada]] | manufacturer = [[Ultravia]] [[New Kolb Aircraft]] [[Aerodesign]] [[Flyer Indústria Aeronáutica]] [[Ballard Sport Aircraft]] | design_group = | designer = Jean Rene Lepage | builder = | issuer = | status = In production as the ''Ballard Pelican'' (2012) | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | proposals = | prototypes = | number_built = | construction_number = | civil_registration = | military_serial = | radio_code = | requirement = | aircraft_carried = | flights = | total_hours = | total_distance = | construction_date = Le Pelican 1983-85 Pelican and subsequent two seat models 1985-2006 Aerodesign Pegasus 1997-2004 Pelican 500BR circa2001-2009 Flyer Kolb SS circa2008-2016 Flyer F600NG 2016-present Pelican PL and Sport 600 2009-present | introduction = | retired = | first_flight = | initiated = | in_service = | last_flight = | expected = | developed_from = | variants = | developed_into = | preservation = | fate = | predecessors = | successors = | concluded = }}

The '''Ultravia Pelican''' is the name given to two series of high-wing, single-engine, [[tractor configuration]] [[ultralight aircraft]] that were designed by Jean Rene Lepage and produced in kit form for [[Homebuilt aircraft|amateur construction]] by [[Ultravia Aero International]] of [[Mascouche]], [[Quebec]] and later [[Gatineau]], Quebec.<ref name="Cliche">Cliche, Andre: ''Ultralight Aircraft Shopper's Guide'' 8th Edition, page E-28. Cybair Limited Publishing, 2001. {{ISBN|0-9680628-1-4}}</ref><ref name="Aerocrafter">Purdy, Don: ''AeroCrafter - Homebuilt Aircraft Sourcebook'', page 279. BAI Communications. {{ISBN|0-9636409-4-1}}</ref><ref name="AboutKolb">{{cite web|url = http://www.aerokml.com/index.php|title = 30 Years of Distinguished Service!|access-date = 25 May 2010|last = [[New Kolb Aircraft]]|year = 2010|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110321172954/http://www.aerokml.com/index.php|archive-date = 21 March 2011|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref name="WDLA11">Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: ''World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12'', pages 81 and 124. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref>

==Design and development== The first Le Pelican was designed as a single-seat aircraft powered by a two-cylinder {{convert|18|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Briggs & Stratton]] four-stroke lawnmower engine. It was designed in the early 1980s and greatly resembles the [[Aeronca C-2]] of 1929.<ref name="Cliche" />

The original Le Pelican airframe is constructed from [[aluminum]] tubing, using [[gusset]]s and [[pop rivet]]s. The wing consists of a "D" cell with foam and aluminum ribs. All flying surfaces are covered in doped [[aircraft fabric]]. The very first Pelicans had wire-bracing for the wing and spoilers for roll control. These were replaced with [[Strut|strut-bracing]] and one-third span [[aileron]]s. The enclosed cabin, designed for Quebec winters included [[Lexan]] doors. The Pelican's conventional landing gear consists of a [[fibreglass]] rod for the main gear, with a tailskid, replaced on later models by a steerable tailwheel.<ref name="Cliche" />

The original Le Pelican was replaced in production by the single-seat Super Pelican which has taller landing gear and a [[Half VW]] engine of {{convert|35|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Cliche" />

The single-seat Le Pelican production ran from 1983 to 1985, with about 100 kits delivered. Due to demand for two-seaters Lepage designed a new "clean-sheet" aircraft in 1984, which retained the same name as the earlier single-seater. The two-seat Pelican Club and its derivatives were built in large numbers, with more than 700 flying by 2003. The original Pelican Club has a fibreglass [[fuselage]] and aluminum frame wings with [[aircraft fabric covering]]. The wings were later made all-metal and this model became the Pelican PL. The PL was available from the factory equipped with a {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912ULS]] or a {{convert|115|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 914]] turbocharged engine. Options included [[Tricycle gear|tricycle]] or [[conventional landing gear]].<ref name="Aerocrafter" /><ref name="AboutKolb" /><ref name="Ultravia2006B">{{cite web|url = http://ultravia.ca/company.htm|title = Company |access-date = 28 May 2010|last = [[Ultravia]]|date=March 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051215074050/http://ultravia.ca/company.htm|archive-date = 15 December 2005}}</ref>

The Pelican was initially produced in kit form by Ultravia of Mascouche, Quebec. The company later relocated to [[Gatineau]], Quebec. The single-seat Le Pelican series was produced from 1983–85 and the two-seat Pelican series was built from 1985 until Ultravia went out of business in 2006.<ref name="Cliche"/><ref name="Aerocrafter"/><ref name="AboutKolb"/><ref name="WDLA11"/>

In 1994, the [[Brazil]]ian company [[Aerodesign]] certified and produced a new version of the Pelican PL and the Pelican Club, designated the [[Aerodesign AD2000 Pegasus]] under the [[National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil]] H.03 program, although the approval is currently listed as "cancelled".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.anac.gov.br/certificacao/AvGeral/CAFCMenu.asp|title=Lista de Fabricantes com CAFC|work=anac.gov.br|access-date=2 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.anac.gov.br/certificacao/AvGeral/CAFCList.asp?OrgCodi=000009|title=Lista das Aeronaves com CAFC|work=anac.gov.br|access-date=2 March 2017}}</ref> In 1997 the company marketed this model as the [[Aerodesign Pegasus]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geocities.ws/CapeCanaveral/2292/feng/avioes.htm|title=Brazilian Market Ultralight Manufacturers and Kit List|work=Claudio Amaral|access-date=1 March 2017|author= Claudio Amaral|date= 1998}}</ref> In 1999 this model was listed as eligible to be sold as a kit in Australia by the [[Australian Ultralight Federation]].<ref>{{cite web|url = http://flysafe.raa.asn.au/constructors/ourlist.pdf|title = Eligible Kit List|access-date = 2 March 2017|author = [[Australian Ultralight Federation]]|work = flysafe.raa.asn.au|date = 4 July 2001|archive-date = 20 February 2017|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170220141426/http://flysafe.raa.asn.au/constructors/ourlist.pdf|url-status = dead}}</ref>

Since 2001 the Brazilian company Flyer Indústria Aeronáutica has assembled and produced several other aircraft designs based on the Pelican, as the Pelican 500BR, Kolb SS and the F600NG.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aerofree.com.br/17435-flyer-pelican-500br-2001/details.html|title=Flyer - Pelican 500BR - 2001|first=Aerofree|last=Classificados|date=1 January 2014|work=aerofree.com.br|access-date=1 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.flyultraleves.com.br/site/products/KOLB-SS.html|title=KOLB SS - Fly Ultraleves|work=flyultraleves.com.br|access-date=1 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="flyerNG">{{cite web|url=http://www.flyer-aero.com/flyer-ng-en-|title=FLYER INDÚSTRIA AERONÁUTICA|work=flyer-aero.com|access-date=1 March 2017|archive-date=2 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170302025855/http://www.flyer-aero.com/flyer-ng-en-|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Ultravia signed [[The New Kolb Aircraft Company]] as US distributor for the Pelican Sport 600 model in 2003. Kolb displayed the aircraft at [[Sun 'n Fun]] and [[AirVenture]] between 2003 and 2005. Ultravia pursued certification of the Pelican Tutor model under [[Canadian Aviation Regulations|CAR 523 VLA]], with the [[National Research Council (Canada)|National Research Council]] conducting the test flying under contract, but Ultravia went out of business before completing certification. In 2006 Kolb purchased the assets of the bankrupt Ultravia and developed the aircraft, in partnership with [[Flyer Indústria Aeronáutica]] of [[Brazil]] into the ''Kolb Flyer Super Sport'', based on pilot feedback gathered. The two-seat Kolb Flyer SS design was put into production in 2008.<ref name="AboutKolb" /><ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="Ultravia2006A">{{cite web|url = http://ultravia.ca/Main_pg_eng.htm|title = Ultravia Aero International Main Page|access-date = 25 May 2010|last = [[Ultravia]]|date=March 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051130021154/http://ultravia.ca/Main_pg_eng.htm|archive-date = 30 November 2005}}</ref>

The Flyer SS's fuselage is built from [[carbon fibre]] and weighs {{convert|77|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, while the wing is made from 6061-T6 and 2024-T3 aluminum. Power is provided by a {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} Rotax 912ULS aircraft engine, giving a cruise speed of {{convert|117|kn|km/h|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="AboutKolb" />

In about 2007 Kolb sold the rights to produce the Pelican line to [[Ballard Sport Aircraft]] of [[Sherbrooke, Quebec]], who presently manufacturer kits and ready-to-fly [[advanced ultralight]] aircraft.<ref name="KitplanesDec2011">Vandermeullen, Richard: ''2011 Kit Aircraft Buyer's Guide'', Kitplanes, Volume 28, Number 12, December 2011, page 44. Belvoir Publications. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}</ref><ref name="Ballard">{{Cite web|url = http://www.ballardsportaircraft.com/pages/bsa_intro_whoweare.html|title = Introduction: Who we are|access-date = 19 November 2011|last = Ballard Sport Aircraft|date = 2011}}</ref>

==Variants== [[File:Ultravia Pelican Club PL 02.JPG|thumb|right|Pelican PL with [[tricycle gear]]]] [[File:Ultravia PELICAN CLUB GS AULA C-IGCG 02.JPG|thumb|right|Ultravia Pelican Club GS [[advanced ultralight]] with [[conventional landing gear]]]] ;Le Pelican :Original single-seat model, powered by a two-cylinder {{convert|18|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Briggs & Stratton]] four-stroke lawnmower engine and featuring low landing gear.<ref name="Cliche" /> ;Super Pelican :Improved single-seat model with higher main landing gear and powered by a {{convert|35|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Half VW]] engine.<ref name="Cliche" /> ;Pelican Club :Two-seat side-by-side model with fabric covered wing introduced in 1985.<ref name="Ultravia2006B" /> ;Pelican PL :Two-seat side-by-side model powered by a {{convert|100|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 912ULS]] or {{convert|115|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} [[Rotax 914]] and introduced in 1991. The PL could be built as a [[conventional landing gear]] or [[tricycle gear]] aircraft, with optional skis, floats or amphibious floats available. Gross weight {{convert|1400|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Ultravia1999">{{cite web|url = http://www.ultravia.ca/ |title = Ultravia Aero International|access-date = 25 May 2010|last = [[Ultravia]]|date=April 1999 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19990429192022/http://www.ultravia.ca/ |archive-date = 29 April 1999}}</ref><ref name="Ultravia2006">{{cite web|url = http://ultravia.ca/Kitplane.htm|title = Ultravia Aero International|access-date = 25 May 2010|last = [[Ultravia]]|date=March 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051130021444/http://ultravia.ca/Kitplane.htm|archive-date = 30 November 2005}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec1998">Downey, Julia: ''1999 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 15, Number 12, December 1998, page 73. Primedia Publications. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2000">Downey, Julia: ''2001 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 17, Number 12, December 2000, page 58. KitPlanes Acquisition Company. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2001">Downey, Julia: ''2002 Kit Aircraft Directory'', Kitplanes, Volume 18, Number 12, December 2001, page 71. KitPlanes Acquisition Company. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}</ref><ref name="KitplanesDec2003">Newby-Gonzalez, Tori: ''Kit Aircraft Directory 2004'', Kitplanes, Volume 20, Number 12, December 2003, page 81. Aviation Publishing Group. {{ISSN|0891-1851}}</ref> ;Pelican Sport :Development of the PL with a new longer span wing and a higher lift [[airfoil]], introduced in 1998. Wing includes an [[STOL kit]] with drooping ailerons. Gross weight {{convert|1232|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}} for the Canadian [[advanced ultralight]] category.<ref name="Ultravia2006B" /><ref name="Ultravia2006" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2003" /> ;Pelican Sport 600 :Development of the Pelican Sport with a {{convert|600|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} gross weight for the US [[Light sport aircraft]] category. As of April 2017, the design does not appear on the [[Federal Aviation Administration]]'s list of approved special light-sport aircraft.<ref name="AboutKolb" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2000" /><ref name="KitplanesDec2001" /><ref name="FAASLSA">{{cite web|url = https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/gen_av/light_sport/media/SLSA_Directory.xlsx|title = SLSA Make/Model Directory|access-date = 1 April 2017|last = [[Federal Aviation Administration]]|date = 1 March 2017}}</ref><ref name="WDLA15">Tacke, Willi; Marino Boric; et al: ''World Directory of Light Aviation 2015-16'', pages 34, 84 and 101. Flying Pages Europe SARL, 2015. {{ISSN|1368-485X}}</ref> ;Pelican Tutor :Proposed certified version, certification was never completed.<ref name="Ultravia2006A" /> ;Flyer Super Sport (Flyer SS) :Redesigned and developed version of the Sport 600, introduced in July 2008 and produced until about 2016 by [[New Kolb Aircraft]] as a light-sport category aircraft.<ref name="AboutKolb" /><ref name="WDLA11" /><ref name="WDLA15"/> ;Pelican AULA 600 :Factory-assembled model for the Canadian [[AULA]] category.<ref name="WDLA15"/><ref name="AULA">{{Cite web|url = http://www.ballardsportaircraft.com/pages/mkt1037.pdf|title = Pelican Sport AULA Technical descriptive |access-date = 19 November 2011|last = Ballard Sport Aircraft|date = 2011}}</ref> ;Aerodesign Pegasus :Brazilian redesigned version, cruising at {{convert|110|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, with a stall speed of {{convert|35|mph|km/h|0|abbr=on}}, MTOW {{convert|1100|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}, aluminium wings and composite fuselage and tail.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oocities.org/ultralight/feng/pegas.htm|title=Aerodesign Pegasus Specification Data|work=Claudio Amaral 1998|access-date=1 March 2017|author=Aerodesign Desenvolvimentos Aeronauticos Ltda|date= March 1997}}</ref> ;Flyer F600NG :A lightened version of the Pelican 500BR and Kolb SS, developed by [[Flyer Indústria Aeronáutica|Flyer Aircraft]] to fit the new Brazilian LSA regulations.<ref name="flyerNG"/>

== Accidents and incidents == In July 2025, a Pelican collided with a dock, leading to the death of a teenager standing on the dock. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 July 2025 |title=Boy, 16, was standing on dock when fatally struck by small plane in Lake Scugog, police say |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/plane-crash-lake-scugog-1.7588686 |work=[[CBC News]] |access-date=3 April 2026}}</ref>

==Specifications (Le Pelican) == [[File:Ultravia Pelican Club Amateur-built C-GTDZ 03.jpg|thumb|right|Pelican Club [[homebuilt aircraft|amateur-built]] on skis]] {{Aircraft specs |ref= Cliche<ref name="Cliche" /> |prime units?=imp |genhide= |crew=one |capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |span m= |span ft=37 |span in=0 |span note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |wing area sqm= |wing area sqft=140 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight kg= |empty weight lb=210 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb=450 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity=2.5 US gallons (19 litres) |more general= |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=[[Briggs & Stratton]] |eng1 type=two-cylinder four stroke lawnmower engine |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp=18 |eng1 note= |power original= |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note= |perfhide= |max speed kmh= |max speed mph= |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph=55 |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph=26 |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range km= |range miles=104 |range nmi= |range note= |endurance= |ceiling m= |ceiling ft= |ceiling note= |g limits=+6.6/-3.3 |roll rate= |glide ratio=13:1 at 35 mph |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin=500 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |power/mass= |more performance= |avionics=*none }}

==See also== {{aircontent  |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= *[[Preceptor N3 Pup]] *[[Hipp's Superbirds J-3 Kitten|J-3 Kitten]] *[[Light Miniature Aircraft LM-1]] *[[Belite Ultra Cub]] *[[Rocky Mountain Wings Ridge Runner]] *[[Anglin J6 Karatoo]] *[[Norman Aviation J6 Karatoo]] *[[Wood Sky Pup]] *[[Team Mini-Max Hi-MAX]] *[[Fisher FP-202 Koala]]

|lists= }}

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{Official website|http://www.ballardsportaircraft.com/pages/bsa_home.html}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.ultravia.ca Ultravia archives] on [[Archive.org]] {{Kolb Aircraft}} {{Uncertified aircraft developed in Canada}} [[Category:Kolb aircraft|Pelican]] [[Category:1980s Canadian ultralight aircraft]] [[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]] [[Category:High-wing aircraft]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]] [[Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear]] [[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]